About Us

The SICWRT meets on the third Thursday of each month, from 7 PM-8:45 PM, at the Central Main Library (Corner of Walnut Ave & Martin Luther King Blvd.) in Evansville, IN. The Roundtable is open to anyone who has an interest in learning more about U.S. Civil War history. Programs are presented by members or guest speakers. Although not for profit, the members pay a nominal annual family membership fee ($15) which is used to offset costs of producing and mailing a monthly newsletter, and to help defray expenses of guest speakers coming from out of town.

Nov 11-12: Symposium, "The Civil War in Middle Tennessee," at Belmont Mansion in Nashville. Reception Friday at the Lotz House in Franklin, lectures at Belmont begin at 8 am Saturday. $75. www.bonps.org or www.belmontmansion.com.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Our September guest speaker was Karel Biggs, a member of the Clarksville Civil War Roundtable. She is a teacher and the wife of CCWRT chairman Greg Biggs who has spoken to our group on several occasions in the past. The title of Karel’s program was "Women & Other Civilians in Occupied Middle Tennessee". Her presentation focused primarily on the conditions in and around Nashville, leading up to and throughout the occupation of the city by Union troops during the war. Prior to the war, Nashville was a prosperous city and could be considered fairly progressive, with its developing education and cultural activities. Its significance as a shipping port on the Cumberland River and an important railroad hub made it a key logistical location for the Union forces to control. In February 1862, shortly after the fall of Fort Donelson, it became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. Two weeks prior to their arrival, a panic ensued and many prominent people fled. Andrew Johnson was appointed military governor and seized control of the government. In order to do business, loyalty oaths were required. The city suffered under the occupation and without a good business economy or an adequate tax base to operate with, schools were closed and the buildings were used for hospitals and administration activities by the occupying forces. Karel’s program also included comments and observations of individuals who endured the occupation and she recommended visiting several historical homes related to the period, which have been preserved. (Submitted by Tom Murray, photo courtesy of Steve Kweskin)

Latest Newsletter

SEPTEMBER MEETING:

Thomas Flagel was our guest speaker for the September meeting. Author and professor, Mr. Flagel teaches American History at Columbia State Community College in Tennessee. He holds degrees from Loras College (B.A. History), Kansas State University (M.A. European History), Creighton University (M.A. International Relations), and has studied at the University of Virginia. Originally from Iowa, he has also lived in Austria and the Czech Republic. Among his ancestors are several Civil War veterans. He has authored the following books: The History Buff’s Guide to the Civil War, The History Buff’s Guide to Gettysburg. The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents, and The History Buff’s Guide to World War II.

PROGRAM: “With the Desperation of Demons: How the Press Reported the Battle of Franklin.” Through their research historians have given us a detailed account of how the Battle of Franklin claimed 10,000 casualities in less than five hours. For the people that lived during that time their main source of news about this and other battles was the newspapers.

During the Civil War there were approximately 2,500 newspapers with 800 in the South. Reporters faced a difficult job since many generals did not want them following the troops. Gen. Sherman stated he would rather have spies in camp than have reporters. The Southern presses suffered a great disadvantage as Union troops advanced and destroyed printing facilities, telegraphs, and railroads. These losses could not easily be replaced. Northern cities could get the news from the front very quickly compared to the South. For example, Chicago would get the news about the Battle of Franklin the next day from the New York Times, while the Jacksonville Republican, only 100 miles from Franklin, would take two weeks to reach print. Newspaper reports often contained several inaccuracies. Confederate Gen. Hiram B. Granbury had his named spelled several ways. A General Williams was reported killed in action and he did not exist. In the South it was wrongly believed that Gen. Hood had won and recaptured Nashville. Newspaper reporters were eyewitnesses to one of the most memorable conflicts in history. They left a record that was brilliant, but at other times marred by shoddy journalism. They were however the American public’s primary source of information.

(LM)

BOOK RAFFLE WINNERS:

Our winners for the September book raffle were: Steve Kweskin, Jerry Dill, and Dennis Hutchinson. Remember, if you have any books you would like to donate for the raffle, please bring them to the next meeting. (LM)

THE REST OF THE STORY: More “Digging” the Civil War

Georgia Southern University students have completed their second summer of the archaeological dig at Camp Lawton, the Confederate run prisoner of war camp located just north of Millen, Georgia. Project director Dr. Sue Moore called the amount and variety of artifacts found this summer as “stunning”. New artifacts include a soldier’s ring with the 3rd Corps insignia, a grocery token from Michigan, suspender buckles and a pocket knife. Foreign coins have been found which indicates that they may have belonged to Union soldiers that joined the army as soon as they arrived in the U.S. This camp was constructed in 1864 and housed more than 10,000 Union prisoners for six weeks before evacuation caused by Sherman’s approach on his “March to the Sea”. (BE)

"In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free. Honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last, best hope of earth."

President Abraham Lincoln, message to Congress, 1862 (LM)

NOTE: You might have noticed some initials at the ends of sections of the newsletter such as BE or LM. They stand for your newsletter editors Bill Emmick and Larry Morris. They let you know who contributed to the article in case you have some further questions.

OCTOBER PROGRAM —

The Red Bank Reunion Band will present an all new program for 2012.To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, they have researched and rehearsed a program using the songs and stories of the Hope Indiana Coronet Band. (LM)

SESQUICENTENNIAL — 1861-2011: 150 YEARS AGO:

Oct. 4, 1861 — The USS South Carolina captured 4,000 to 5,000 stands of arms when the Confederate schooners Ezlida and Joseph H. Toone were taken near South Pass of the Mississippi River, south of New Orleans.

Oct. 7, 1861 — General John C. Fremont sets out to attack General Sterling Price in Missouri.

Oct. 10, 1861 — President Jefferson Davis recomends the use of blacks as laborers for the Confederate army.

Oct. 21, 1861 — Col. Edward Baker, U.S. Senator from Oregon and a personal friend of Lincoln’s, is killed at Ball’s Bluff on the Potomac.

Oct. 24, 1861 — In western Virginia, the people vote to form a new state. (BE)/(LM)

FUTURE PROGRAMS:

October 20, 2011 – Red Bank Reunion Band

November 17, 2011 – Terry Hughes "The War Comes to Fredricktown"

December 15, 2011 – Trivia Contest

FORAGER’S LIST:

October 20, 2011— Band

November 17, 2011 — Ron and Patsy Sproatt

December 15, 2011 — Phil Hare

MEMBERSHIP:

The Southern Indiana Civil War Roundtable is open to membership to anyone interested in learning more about the U.S. Civil War. Meetings are held monthly on the third Thursday of each month at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library in downtown Evansville, Indiana at 7:00 p.m. Dues are $15.00 per family for a year and are due in January of each year. If you still owe dues for this year, be sure to see Ron Sproatt at our next meeting. Members are always encouraged to share information they have about any civil war topic by passing it along to the newsletter editors.